Shaver Lake, Ca

the weekend

I'm warning you right now that this is more of a journal entry with no purpose and a lot of disorganization. go ahead and read if you want.

I've been thinking lately.. about how life is simple. I think I have always known that I have a simple mind. really when it comes to everything; what I believe, learning in school. I understand things in a simple, realistic way. With that being said, not everything in this world is simple, which can sometimes throw me for a loop when I'm trying to wrap my head about something more complicated than making brownies with coconut oil. (haha - I feel like I'm making myself sound super dumb and un-intelligent right now. promise I am sort of smart people). I have just been thinking lately about the decisions that Steve and I are facing in our lives. Big ones at that. Like what to do with our hard earned money, how there are so many not simple choices that we are having to make in the next little while. (really people - how hard can it be to decide what kind of dog to get? kidding - but really. That is one of the more simple decisions might you know). And then I think about how simple our summer lives are - and how I'm going to miss is tooo much. We wake up, eat, work, fall asleep next to each other, go on little adventures, discover more and more about one another each day.. It just seems simple sometimes. But soo complicated at too.

Just rambles over here. But it has been on my mind lately. How simple can life really get? And how do our minds make it so complicated.. Deep stuff friends.

Any who (I feel like I'm saying that a lot lately).. We had a great weekend. I didn't sell on Saturday which was a bummer because I worked dang hard.. and was so close so many times. but it's alright. There is always today. We went and hung out with some chubby baby cousins of mine that night and it made me baby hungry. Steve and I went to the full 3 hours of our ward on Sunday which was so refreshing. We have been traveling and out of town so much the past couple weeks, and I loved being able to just sit, and feel at peace, and just take in a lot of good stuff. (the good stuff meaning parenting - raising children - Steve and I had one of those really in depth couple conversations after church while I was making these BOMB chicken tacos which was really fun. The kind of conversation that makes you just smile and fall in love with each other all again - that is for another post though. It was cool).

We are working in Sacramento for the week and I already love it up here. love it enough that I would raise my kids here, that kind of love. I am going to be staying in a hotel room with three stinky boys though (one of them is my husband - who smells good most of the time, so that shouldn't be a problem) so wish me lots of luck and patience and stuff.

That's all.

>> Ry

Life

So I had the goal of finishing a book before the summer was over. Last week I bought the book Escape, by Carolyn Jessop and I just couldn't put it down. I finished it in like 5 days. I was that hooked. I had to force myself to not bring it with me while I worked or I wouldn't have knocked on one door all week. I have always had a thing for books that are intense and empowering... maybe because of some of the experiences I have had in my life, and some of the amazing women I look up to that have dealt with and overcome some incredible obstacles.. I dunno. But that kind of stuff absolutely fascinates me (Steve sometimes makes fun of me for it ha. But it's whatever). 

Any who, I've been thinking a lot lately about this life that I have been given. About how I am living my life right now, and the luxuries that I have that so many people in the world are so unaware of. I probably sound like a crazy person right now, ha the fact that one single book brought all of these emotions to surface for me (that and Steve and I had an awesome talk about obedience last night - I love talking about smart, in-depth things with my husband. I feel like we grow closer with every word that comes out of our mouths and I love it), but it's true. I have been reflecting on how blessed I am to live the way I do. I think about some of the hard things that I have had to go through in my life, or that Steve and I may have ahead of us, and it truly makes me grateful. It makes me grateful to think that there is a God that cares about us enough to help us learn how to become stronger. To give us chances to improve ourselves, and is there every millisecond that we may need help. Then I think about the people in our world like carolyn jessop. The life that she, and so many women had to (and still have to) live. That "Why?" question always comes up when I think about stuff like that, and even though I already feel like I know the answer (maybe the answer is just sufficient for me) I always get curious and have to have long thoughts with myself about it. Then I come back to the same few sentences every time. Our spirits our strong enough to endure anything that is put in our way, as long as we are obedient and willing to work with our Father in Heaven. I remember that those women who live any FLDS community, and those children that have to face all that they do in Syria, or the babies who sleep in huts at night, all have spirits strong enough to withstand their circumstances. (but that doesn't stop the other part of me that wants to walk into Colorado City and shake every single women silly and go and buy them mini skirts and take tops and take a bat to every man's head - was that too harsh?)

Bottom line, I'm grateful. I'm grateful that I have to worry about whether or not I am going to get yelled at by a complete stranger when I knock on their doors a couple times a day. I am grateful that I open the fridge and have an endless amount of items I could scarf in seconds. I am grateful that I have a man who respects me, and see's my worth, and loves me for it. I'm just plain grateful.

{oh, and last night steve and I drove home from a little sight seeing and that picture above is what we ran into. I mean, really? Heaven is for real people. Like seriously for real. I love this life.}

And now Steve and I are going to go and write down 100 things that we are thankful for. Heaven knows we have been blessed with much more than 100 things, and for that, I wouldn't give up what I know and the Gospel I live for anything.

Let's all be blessed together.

>Ry

The City Vol. 2 - The Lewis Family

This is one my most favorite little families. Jord and Mal are some of our best friends, and considering the fact that our daughters are going to have the same name, it will stay that way. Soak in their beauty. (Also, Norah makes me want a little babe RIGHT NOW. Is she not scrumptious?)

-Ry

my guy

We celebrated this guys life this weekend! July 19th is one of my most favorite days of the year. Words really cant describe how much he means to me. He has blessed so many lives. And continues to do so every day. He is the most amazing Christ-like example and never ceases to keep me from laughing. Yesterday I made him play hooky from work and go to the celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe with some friends. We went to a bbq and saw planet of the apes to celebrate. Movies and food - two of his most favorite things :) 

Thank you for coming to this earth Mr. Warner! You are loved. 

-Ry

Capitola Vol. 1

Capitola is the most perfect little beach town just south of Santa Cruz here in California. I have already said a few words about this place in previous posts, but I seriously just can't get enough of it. It is probably one of my most favorite vacations. It's one of those places where your beach house is literally across the street from the beach, as well as across the street from every cute little shop and boutique you can think of. Oh and if being a hop, skip, and jump away from the beach isn't enough, this sweet little abode has it's own little park with a dock right next to the most beautiful river that you ever did see. Complete with mini sails and paddle boarding. See I told you. It's heaven. Literally. I love it so much. I can't wait to continue to take little trips there. Over the weekend we went and stayed a couple days with my family out in Capitola while they were visiting and had the most perfect day. The pictures explain what our adventures consisted of better than I could. Enjoy. 

(P.S. we are looking for couples friends to assist us in our next Capitola adventure. If you wanna have a great, sunny time, bunk for free, and have endless amounts of comic relief, let me know. - Dance parties may be an extra fee, but that can be negotiated.)  

-Ry

Beachy Dressin

While my sweet familia was here we went down to our relatives (family inherited - sort of, it's a long story) beach house in Capitola, Ca (there will be more about our glorious trip there here soon). It is seriously one of my most favorite places on this entire planet. It is so beautiful, and quaint, and I think I love it so much because it adds a little Southern California "feel" here up north. We spent the day roaming this beautiful beach town and It was the perfect day to wear my newest (and most favorite) article of clothing (at least for right now)! I love how simple the embroidery is on this dress, but how the color and design still make a statement. Since we were spending most of the day walking around on the beach and searching through little shops on main street I decided to use it more as a cover up. 

I'm all about comfort when it comes to dressing. whether I'm in my sweats or going out with Mr. Warner for the night. This dress gives me an endless amount of options. And not to mention it's from World Market - which is definitely beating out anthropologie for my most favorite store on the planet (even though it's all pretty much just eye candy for me. I get anxiety even thinking about forking over that much money). Find it here.

(And those shoes?? Do you love them as much as I do? I was dying when I found them. Add the most perfect pop of color to any outfit. find them here)

stay tuned for more summer dress essentials here on the blog soon!